Books. Bikes. Boomsticks.
“I only regret that I have but one face to palm for my country.”
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Ride to live, live to ride...
I have commuted to work, a hundred miles round trip, on a 600cc sportbike in weather that would have had saner people calling in sick, but my hat's off to this loon.
Shine on, you crazy Ducati Streetfighter-ridin' diamond. .
I never started again until the 2nd week end in February. Back when I rode that was the first weekend we had temps high enough to not turn into a ice cube running down to the store.
And this from a guy that once wiped out in December, in Rifle Colorado.
I had a soft landing though, I hit an apartment building. The soft part was the dessicated row of sticks, they called it a hedge, that I went through first. The fence was just showing off.
I've one of Andy Goldfine's Roadcrafter oversuits and an electric jacket liner but I've never used 'em on any scoot costing as much as that, nor with nearly so many ponies... yikes!
A friend of mine, way back in the late 80's, had an RG250 Gamma he was insanely proud of. He rode it everywhere, in all weathers, despite the fact that it was a snappy little thing with something more like an on/off switch than a throttle.
The first day it really snowed, he still rode it into work. He'd been having some engine troubles (not unusual) so sometimes turned up with the fairing off while he worked on it. This was just such a day.
"What's up with it this time?", I asked. "Nothing", he replied. "Where's the fairing, then?".
At which point, he took it out of his pockets. It took a while to get all the bits.
Being young, poor and in debt to pay for the bike there was no way he could afford another one, so he spent the rest of the winter piecing it back together with filler.
At least the rider of that monster will be ridding WITH traffic.
In Boston you have the crunchies ridding through two inches of slush and ice in their skinny-tire street cycles inches from traffic, and disobeying any traffic rule they don't feel suits them.
I swear I'll know the sound of a bicycle helmet under an all-weather tire before I retire someplace warm and free.
Back in teenage days came out of a evening class and found it'd started snowing. Hard. So rode about seven miles home on covered-and-becoming-coverder streets, a lot of the time with my feet down as outriggers.
That cured me of riding on streets when there's ice or snow on them.
I left the factory one night on a cold blooded Yamaha RD250. It was muttering as I got out on the street and flipped the choke off. Thing hit 4000 rpm and stood on its tail. the cop that came around the corner saw that so I high tailed it a couple of block with turns and the guy gave up. Better than 80% chance I knew the cop.
I once crashed a motorcycle to avoid a large snake crossing the road whilst coming down a hill on Taiwan's east coast (and whilst not wearing my helmet). I had to do some minor repairs to the bike and clean up my cuts and bruises. The snake escaped in one piece so I chalked that up as a success tainted only by the fact I didn't get another look at it to identify what species it was, but it took up half the road in its' S shape and was a bluish-grey colour if memory serves.
Back in the 70's when we were saving up to buy our first house, I rode a bike everyday for 2 years. Started with a massaged, geared down 350TT. Then graduated to a Harley chopper put together from spare/used parts.
Went out last night since it was clear (we got about 2 " today, so the timing was good)and stopped for a scenic picture or two. Jumped back on the TL and decided to loft the front as we left, instead I just spun up the rear tire. Rubber gets cold fast around here apparently.
Can't dull his sparkle.
ReplyDeleteI never started again until the 2nd week end in February. Back when I rode that was the first weekend we had temps high enough to not turn into a ice cube running down to the store.
ReplyDeleteHats off to this rider.
Mal: Ship like this, be with you 'til the day you die.
ReplyDeleteZoë Washburne: 'Cause it's a deathtrap.
I've had my beater KLR 650 out already, but that's too nice to ride until the salt and ice are off the roads.
ReplyDeleteOrgan donor.
ReplyDeleteAnd this from a guy that once wiped out in December, in Rifle Colorado.
I had a soft landing though, I hit an apartment building. The soft part was the dessicated row of sticks, they called it a hedge, that I went through first. The fence was just showing off.
I've one of Andy Goldfine's Roadcrafter oversuits and an electric jacket liner but I've never used 'em on any scoot costing as much as that, nor with nearly so many ponies... yikes!
ReplyDeletePassed a dude on his Supermoto on the way home from class today. Figured he'll probably fall down with his nice slick tires, 40 degrees or not.
ReplyDeleteEarly 70's, we sold a new black Moto Guzzi Ambassador to a young guy about mid-week, mid winter. South Jersey on the coast.
ReplyDeleteSaturday, I hear a bike idling outside the bay door, and find him sitting on a mostly white bike, in for his first service.
This was in the middle of a snow storm, snowing hard enough I couldn't see more than a half block distance.
Yep, nuts right there...
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas in Tijuana bike ride the club my dad and I were in is my record.
ReplyDeleteMinneapolis to Tijuana and back.
I was insane when I was young, I am not sure what my dad's excuse was (or the other members of the club).
A friend of mine, way back in the late 80's, had an RG250 Gamma he was insanely proud of. He rode it everywhere, in all weathers, despite the fact that it was a snappy little thing with something more like an on/off switch than a throttle.
ReplyDeleteThe first day it really snowed, he still rode it into work. He'd been having some engine troubles (not unusual) so sometimes turned up with the fairing off while he worked on it. This was just such a day.
"What's up with it this time?", I asked. "Nothing", he replied. "Where's the fairing, then?".
At which point, he took it out of his pockets. It took a while to get all the bits.
Being young, poor and in debt to pay for the bike there was no way he could afford another one, so he spent the rest of the winter piecing it back together with filler.
At least the rider of that monster will be ridding WITH traffic.
ReplyDeleteIn Boston you have the crunchies ridding through two inches of slush and ice in their skinny-tire street cycles inches from traffic, and disobeying any traffic rule they don't feel suits them.
I swear I'll know the sound of a bicycle helmet under an all-weather tire before I retire someplace warm and free.
Back in teenage days came out of a evening class and found it'd started snowing. Hard. So rode about seven miles home on covered-and-becoming-coverder streets, a lot of the time with my feet down as outriggers.
ReplyDeleteThat cured me of riding on streets when there's ice or snow on them.
I left the factory one night on a cold blooded Yamaha RD250. It was muttering as I got out on the street and flipped the choke off. Thing hit 4000 rpm and stood on its tail. the cop that came around the corner saw that so I high tailed it a couple of block with turns and the guy gave up. Better than 80% chance I knew the cop.
ReplyDeleteAh youth, how I miss its gentle embrace.
Bigger stones than I got. I pretty much stick to the Ubiquitous Seattle Subaru once it below 40F or raining. (Blue 2002 Forester, natch!)
ReplyDeletePut in my 100k road miles of commuting in the rain. I paid my dues and don't have to do that crazy business anymore.
I've got two days of riding in this month. Too much snow in Dec and Jan, so I've missed my goal this year: every month, no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI once crashed a motorcycle to avoid a large snake crossing the road whilst coming down a hill on Taiwan's east coast (and whilst not wearing my helmet). I had to do some minor repairs to the bike and clean up my cuts and bruises. The snake escaped in one piece so I chalked that up as a success tainted only by the fact I didn't get another look at it to identify what species it was, but it took up half the road in its' S shape and was a bluish-grey colour if memory serves.
ReplyDeleteBack in the 70's when we were saving up to buy our first house, I rode a bike everyday for 2 years. Started with a massaged, geared down 350TT. Then graduated to a Harley chopper put together from spare/used parts.
ReplyDeleteSome mornings were mighty cold I can tell you!
Went out last night since it was clear (we got about 2 " today, so the timing was good)and stopped for a scenic picture or two. Jumped back on the TL and decided to loft the front as we left, instead I just spun up the rear tire. Rubber gets cold fast around here apparently.
ReplyDeleteI've always ridden Enduros on the street...
ReplyDeleteFor the Idaho winters I had a set of studded knobbies Heh ! Watch out for that bare pavement tho ...